AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL: IRELAND v FIJI
Venue: Royal Dublin Society, Dublin Date: Saturday, 21 November Kick-off: 1715 GMT Coverage: Live coverage on BBC2 NI, BBC Red Button, BBC Radio Ulster MW and the BBC Sport website
Ireland may have made eight changes team for Saturday's clash with Fiji at the RDS but the Pacific Islanders still face a massive task in Dublin.
Talisman Brian O'Driscoll remains in the Irish team after scoring a late try in the 20-20 draw with Australia.
The inclusion of the likes of Jonathan Sexton, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Eoin Reddan and Shane Horgan should not unduly weaken the Irish either.
Fiji have made five changes from last weekend's 23-10 defeat by Scotland.
Gloucester flanker Apolosi Satala and Akapusi Qera start as part of a four-strong English contingent that includes Saracens scrum-half Mosese Rauluni and London Welsh lock Wame Lewaravu.
Ulster winger Timoci Nagusa is included on the bench while three of the backline - Seremaia Baikeinuku, Gabiriele Lovobalavu and Norman Ligairi - are French-based.
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It feels a bit old to be making my debut when I look at some of the lads who've come before me
Jonathan Sexton
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The performance of uncapped Sexton at fly-half is likely to be one of the main post-match talking points for Irish fans.
Sexton's cool displays last season for European champions Leinster marked him out as the obvious successor to Munster's Ronan O'Gara and he is deserving of the opportunity that Saturday will bring.
He now joins a back division where O'Driscoll, Earls, D'Arcy and Horgan all have Lions experience.
Sexton even acknowledges a trace of embarrassment that it has taken him so long to make his Ireland bow.
"It feels a bit old to be making my debut when I look at some of the lads who've come before me," said the 24-year-old.
"The likes of Luke (Fitzgerald) and Rob (Kearney) and Cian (Healy) and Earlsy," added the Leinster number 10.
Sexton is taking comfort from his provincial team-mate Reddan's selection to partner him at scrum-half and the familiar venue of the RDS.
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"We've been playing together for five or six games together now so we're getting used to each other so it will nice to have him there," said Sexton of Reddan.
"There's a good few other Leinster backs outside me that'll be there to help me as well."
O'Driscoll's fellow mainstay Paul O'Connell is also retained in a side which sees Tom Court of Ulster, Leo Cullen and Denis Leamy drafted into the pack.
Fiji's task isn't made any easier by coach Glen Ella's weakened hand.
Ella hasn't named names but he has insisted that several of the country's top players have been coerced to remain with their clubs, in contravention of International Rugby Board (IRB) regulations.
Reacting to Ella's comments, the IRB said on Friday that it had not acted on Fiji's behalf in any disputes over player availability because it had not been requested to do so.
Ireland: R Kearney; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, capt, G D'Arcy, K Earls; J Sexton, E Reddan; T Court, J Flannery, J Hayes, L Cullen, P O'Connell, S Ferris, D Leamy, J Heaslip. Replacements: S Cronin, T Buckley, D O'Callaghan, S O'Brien, T O'Leary, P Wallace, A Trimble.
Fiji: N Ligairi; V Goneva, G Lovobalavu, S Baikeinuku, N Roko; N Little, M Rauluni; A Tarogi, V Veikoso, V Seuseu; W Lewaravu, I Rawaqa; A Satala, A Qera, A Boko. Replacements: I Ledua, G Dewes, L Nakarawa, S Bola, W Vatuvoka, J Matavesi, T Nagusa.
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
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